Library of the 
University of North Carolina 


Kudowed by the Dialectic and Philan- 


thropic Societies 


THE MAN WHO CARRIED THE 
LAST FLAG OF TRUCE 


dulian SS. Carr 
Southern Securities and Investments 


Durham, N. C. 


Capt. Dallas Ward, DECEMBER 16, 1914. 
Franklington, N.C. 
My Dear Carr. Warp: 

It is with great pleasure that I acknowledge receipt 
of your highly esteemed favor of the 11th, enclosing 
account of “The Last Railroad Flag of Truce During 
the War.” 

It is very interesting indeed and I thank you very 
cordially for giving me the great pleasure of reading 
it. By all means have it printed so that the story may 
live, and the oncoming generations may have the op- 
portunity of reading it. The story is interesting and 
historical and needs to live. I shall be glad to have 
half a dozen copies of it when you have had it printed. 

I remember you very kindly and am so glad to hear 
from you again. You and I were boys when these oc- 
currences took place, but they left their impression, and 
very rightly so, and amid it all we have nothing to be 
ashamed of. 

May God bless you and spare you and keep you 
many years for your friends to respect and love, one of 
whom I[ count myself. You and I and a few others are 
all that is left of the “old guard,” and let us love each 
other unto death. 

With assurances of warm personal regards, I beg 
to remain, 

Very sincerely yours, 


JuLian S. Carr. 


Digitized by the Internet Archive 
in 2012 with funding from 
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 


https://archive.org/details/lastflagoftruceward 


State of North Caralina 
Supreme Court 


Raleigh 
WALTER CLARK, CHIEF JUSTICE 
PLATT D. WALKER 
GEORGE H. BROWN 
WILLIAM A. HOKE 
W. R. ALLEN 
ASSOCIATE JUSTICES 


23 DEC OIA: 


Capt. Dallas T. Ward, 

My DEAR CAPTAIN: 

I have read your “Flag of Truce” incident with 
much interest. It is well written and I have reason to 
know from other sources that it is accurate. 

It is an historical incident that ought to be preserved 
in some permanent form for the future historian of 
those stirring times. 

With high regard, 

Most truly yours, 
WALTER CLARK. 


DEDICATED 
To the Old Soldiers, Living and Dead; Also Conduc- 
tors and Engineers 


Respectfully and fraternally 
DALLAS T. WARD 
Franklinton, N. C. 


INTRODUCTION 


In response to frequent requests this pamphlet, con- 
taining a narration of the Flag of Truce sent by Gov- 
ernor Z. B. Vance to General W. T. Sherman the day 


before he reached Raleigh, N. C., is published. 


The Last Railroad Flag of Truce 
During the Civil War 


When the war commenced between the States I was 
a mere boy, fifteen years old. For over two years I 
ran as a newsboy on the old Raleigh and Gaston Rail- 
road, now a part of the Seaboard Air Line from Ral- 
eigh to Weldon. During these years I worked hard 
and faithfully, and in a year or so was given the po- 
sition of conductor on the same line, and the historical 
event I wish to narrate here occurred while I was fill- 
ing this position. 

When I was nineteen years old I was ordered to 
take my train, consisting of seven cars loaded with 
railroad supplies, and go ahead of General Joseph E. 
Johnston’s army to Greensboro, N. C., in order to keep 
away from the enemy, General Sherman, who was so 
rapidly advancing towards Raleigh, N. C. 

While waiting for final instructions to go to Greens- 
boro, I walked up to the Capitol and stood near Gen- 
eral Joseph E.. Johnston, who was sitting on his horse 
inside the Capitol gate, reviewing his troops as they 
were passing up Fayetteville Street. It was a pathetic 
sight to see the tattered, torn and hungry, but brave 
soldiers on their retreat. While standing there a mes- 
senger came to me and told me to report to the round 
house or shops where I would find an engine with one 
coach attached and with this I was to go at once to the 
passenger station about one mile on the other side of 


the city (now the Southern freight depot), and wait 
for further instructions. Everything seemed secretive, 
and the railroad people could find out nothing. When 
later I was asked to secure a white flag I understood 
it was a flag of truce I was to conduct. It will proba- 
bly add a more personal and human touch if I tell you 
the difficulty I had in procuring one. White cloth was 
exceedingly scarce, so we sent to house after house in 
vain, but at last found a piece about one yard square. 
The next problem was to find a staff, and for this pur- 
pose a long-handled spear was excavated from a near- 
by warehouse. After attaching the cloth and thinking 
our labors ended along this line, we saw it would never 
do to ride into the enemy’s lines with the glittering 
spear shining. We had the train hand take the flag 
down and cut off the end. By this time the party ar- 
rived, consisting of Ex-Governor W. A. Graham ; Gov- 
ernor David L. Swain; Dr. Edward Warren, Surgeon 
General of the State; Colonel Jas. G. Burr, of Wil- 
mington, N. C.; and Major John Devereux, of Raleigh. 
They had been appointed by Governor Z. B. Vance 
and his advisers to go under flag of truce to find Gen- 
eral Sherman and surrender the City of Raleigh, so as 
to prevent, if possible the destruction that befell the 
City of Columbia, 5. C., where fourteen hundred build- 
ings were burned. 

The members of the party conducted themselves ac- 
cording to the dignity of the occasion. Only a few 
words were spoken and they were almost in whispers. 
They realized the peril of the moment, and we started 
off rather sadly. We went on slowly for fear our 


Page Ten 


soldiers might not understand our mission and send a 
stray bullet through our coach. 


Our trip was unmolested until General Wade Hamp- 
ton, who was covering the retreat, motioned to us to 
stop. We left the coach and walked out to meet him, 
with his staff about him, with Governor Graham, in his 
gentle, dignified manner, as spokesman. After a short 
conference with General Hampton, and having gained 
his consent, we proceeded towards Sherman’s quar- 
ters. 

You who think this an enviable trip will probably 
change when I tell you of the roaring cannons and 
firing of infantry just ahead of us. 


We went slowly on, however, until we saw a fine 
charger dashing towards us through an open field, 
with a soldier waving his saber frantically at us. We 
halted, and he breathlessly told us General Hampton 
had ordered us to stop on account of the hazardousness 
of the journey. No sooner said than done. We immedi- 
ately ordered the engineer to move quickly back. Upon 
reaching Hampton again, he told Governor Graham 
that he had received a courier message from General 
Johnston stating it would not be safe for the flag of 
truce to continue, and, in the meantime General Kil- 
patrick had gotten in his rear. We were in quite a 
dilemma. So I called my old friend, Major Devereux, 
aside and suggested that we try to get back to Raleigh. 
I felt sure that Kilpatrick knew there was no rolling 
stock on this end of the line between Goldsboro and 
Raleigh, and that he would not probably tear up the 
track. We were badly frightened, you may be sure. 


Page Eleven 


However, the final verdict was to try to get back to 
Raleigh and not fall into the hands of Kilpatrick’s 
men. 

In all of this excitement General Hampton showed 
remarkable composure. 


We proceeded slowly and Dr. Warren stood on the 
platform next to the engine tender with me while I 
held firmly to the bell cord, so at the first glimpse of 
soldiers I might signal the train to stop. We did not 
go many miles either before I spied two or three cav- 
alrymen on the railroad bank a short distance ahead. 
My exclamation was, “Doc, yonder are the Yankees.” 
We went into the coach to report the fact, and you can 
know our hearts were in our throats as we moved 
slowly into a railroad cut. They piled down upon us 
like wild Indians, and had not officers appeared, would 
have in all probability, taken our lives. They ordered 
the official party out, and it was a heart rending sight 
to see the stately old gentleman climbing up the bank 
to be led away to Kilpatrick’s headquarters in the sad- 
dle some distance in the woods. 


Pardon a personal allusion, when I tell what trans- 
pired while they were away. At first 1 resisted the 
insults thrust upon me. However a loaded musket 
pointed in my face, with the threat to blow my brains 
out, brought me quickly into submission. They robbed 
me of twenty-two hundred dollars in Confederate 
money, also of my watch and everything of value on 
the car. They then enjoyed making sport of me and 
calling me little Johnnie rebel. I wasn’t even permitted 
to speak to my engineer, Mr. Faison. They took the 


Page Twelve 


throttle lever off, put the fire out in the engine, and 
placed a strong guard over us. 

To add to the appalling situation, I could see up on 
the banks wounded men and blood flowing from the 
horses, and hear the constant firing of guns in the near 
distance. Naturally I was becoming alarmed about the 
official party, but officers soon came and told me they 
were safe and also told me General Kilpatrick wished 
to see me. I summoned my courage and obediently 
followed them a half mile or so into the woods. There 
I found the General sitting upon his horse with his staff 
near him. The following are some of his questions to 
me: “Are you the conductor in charge of the flag of 
truce? When did you leave Raleigh? Who is in the 
party? Do you think Johnston will make a stand to 
fight us in Raleigh? How many men do you suppose 
he has?” etc. I answered as courteously and briefly 
as I could, for I wasn’t altogether comfortable to hear 
bullets whizzing through the pines, but, like an eel be- 
ing skinned, I was getting used to the situation and 
was more composed. 


Kilpatrick, on the other hand, seemed angry and 
greatly excited and cursed at his men to go do this and 
that. After having obtained the desired information 
he permitted me to be carried back to my coach and 
ordered the soldiers to fire my engine for me. 


In those days we used wood for fuel, and our sup- 
ply was almost exhausted. However, the soldiers re- 
plenished it with broken fence rails. You may be sure 
I was glad to get back and also to find all of our 
party sitting quietly in the car. Adjutant General 


Page Thirteen 


Estes, of Kilpatrick’s staff, was then instructed to con- 
duct us to General Sherman’s camp. With thirty or 
forty soldiers in and on top of the coach we resumed 
our sad mission. I reported to Major Devereux the 
treatment I had received at the hands of the enemy 
during their absence. General Estes promised to re- 
gain my watch, etc., but this he never did. From this 
time on it seemed as if the whole of Sherman’s army 
was lined up on either side of the track, and as it was 
growing late the camp fires were a picturesque scene. 
Upon reaching Sherman’s headquarters at Clayton, 
N. C., we were escorted to the General’s tent. He met 
us cordially, and after Governor Graham made known 
our mission and read the papers signed by Governor 
Vance, General Sherman assured us that the flag of 
truce would be respected. 


Then followed the never-to-be-forgotten supper, af- 
ter the day so full of excitement. After the meal an 
animated conversation ensued between Governor 
Swain, Governor Graham and General Sherman. Govy- 
ernor Swain, who was in his declining years, was 
somewhat deaf. However, his rejoinders were always 
witty and caused some merriment. 


When Taps sounded, General Sherman saw that all 
of us were as comfortably settled as bunks would allow 
for the night. I was put in the tent adjoining General 
Sherman, and actually slept for a few hours. I have 
forgotten the name but remember very pleasantly the 
general with whom I slept. I wish to speak of his great 
admiration for General Johnston, although he was 
fighting him every day. His ability as a leader was 


Page Fourteen 


in his opinion worth more than passing notice. No 
one could surpass him on a retreat, as 1t was often said 
that even a camp kettle could scarcely be found be- 
hind him. 

Upon leaving the following morning, General Sher- 
man escorted us to our train, shook hands with each 
one of us and wished us a safe trip back to Raleigh. 
He said he would be there in a few hours. 

We continued our journey home peaceably until we 
reached Garner, at that time a wood and water station 
five miles from Raleigh. 

There we saw General Kilpatrick and his staff. 
They were all clothed in bright new uniforms and on 
fine fat horses, a new flag waving above their heads. 
He rode up near our coach and Governor Graham 
raised his window in recognition of his approach. 
This was what the former said: “You can go on to 
Raleigh, as this flag of truce has been recognized and 
the City of Raleigh surrendered. If you show any 
resistance, however, we will give you heil. Now you 
had better put up your white flag, too, or your own 
men may make a mistake and fire upon you. As soon 
as you leave me you are in General Hampton’s lines.” 

Again we had difficulty in fashioning a flag, for 
ours had been taken on the day before. Our cloth re- 
mained, but we had no staff. At last we found an old 
persimmon tree, from which we cut a very crooked 
branch . This wasn’t substantial enough, so we sent 
Bob, a faithful old colored hand, up on top of the coach 
to hold it. He was frightened but held to the flag just 
the same. 


Page Fifteen 


At last the perilous journey was ended and we 
reached Raleigh as Kilpatrick’s men were also reach- 
ing there. On that day I saw General Sherman review 
his troops from the same place that on the day before 
I saw General Johnston review his. The contrast was 
a great one, for Sherman’s men were clad in new uni- 
forms. 

Many other cruel and exciting instances might be 
cited, but my story is long enough. ‘To my readers I 
wish to say in closing, this is simply but truthfully told. 
Many years have elapsed since that time, and I am 
now past sixty-eight years old. However, a hundred 
more years would not efface the memeory of that 
most eventful day of my youth. 


Additional copies of this booklet can be had at 25c. 
. Address 


DaLLas T. Warp, 
Franklinton, N. C. 


Page Sixteen 


Photomount 
Pamphlet 
Binder 


Gaylord Bros. 
alae 
Syracuse, N. - 
Year. JAN 21, 1908 


ERSITY OF N.C. AT CHAPEL HILL 


IU A 
00032759809 


FOR USE ONLY IN 


THE NORTH CAROLINA COLLECTION 


